FULL BLOG

When you have a couple who look like models straight out of a wedding magazine, life is pretty good. Alyssa and Austin were so stunning on their special day, and as you can tell my camera was absolutely in love with them, their sweet families, and the greatest reception party I have been a part of, in a while. When I got the chance to hangout with Austin & Alyssa before the big day, they told me how important their family was to them, and let me tell you how beautiful it was to witness their family love and celebrate them in such intentional ways. There was laughter, tears, and many sweet embraces to show their support for these two lives joining together.

It was the most evident from the very moment Alyssa got into her backless dress, and Austin put on that tux, they were ready to see each other during their first look. One thing people might not realize about a first look is that it is kind of the quiet before the wonderful, overwhelming, crazy, lovely storm takes place. It is rare you will be alone with just your person again on your wedding day, as you are surrounded by the many people you love, but that intimate first look moment can be so precious. It calms the nerves, but most importantly I believe it also prepares your heart for the big known moment of walking down the aisle and saying “I choose you everyday.”

As soon as Alyssa & Auston said I do, and walked back up that aisle, it was such a epic celebration of love and family. Absolutely everything you would want in that one day where you get to have all your favorite people together. It was truly a day to remember.

My heart. Oh this wedding was special in every since of the word. If you guys need any catching up, Dana has been my best friend since sixth grade, and when she asked me to capture her intimate wedding ceremony, I was incredible thrilled. Not only did I get to see my best friend get married (when only 20 family member got to witness the actually ceremony), but I also got to capture her and her new husband on one of the most beautiful days of the years.

Looking back on this day, one of my favorite moment was spending time with Dana and Kevin afterwards and hearing all their thoughts about what just happened. Kevin was over-the-moon excited and couldn’t stop telling Dana how beautiful she looked, and Dana just was so couldn’t stop smiling. They were simply giddy.

After the ceremony, we ran, laughed, danced, though the forrest at Umstead park until the sun was pretty low, and then headed over to Chatham Station in Cary for the big reception part of the evening. After capturing some beautiful details shots, I was able to pass my camera over to my second shooter and enjoy the rest of evening as a guest. I loved everything about Dana & Kevin’s day, and it was wonderful to witness one of my dearest friends begin a whole new kind of adventure.

Oh the beautiful venue that is The Little Herb house. I shot one of my first weddings here, and it was so fun to go back and be reminded how much I love everything about it. Kimberly and Chad got married in the most serene setting as they officially became man and wife, where their dog, Foster, even was present for the ceremony. My absolute favorite part of the day was hopping in some-what of a tractor with the bride and groom to take some stunning photos in the back part of the property. There were cows, grasshopper galore, and a sunset that didn’t disappoint. It was everything a wedding day should be, filled with happy tears, close family and friends, an epic dance party, and two souls who were over the moon that they will get to spend the rest of forever with each other.

Paige & Brett have known each other for a very long, long time. They met, and started dating in school, and have literally been together ever since. Their wedding day couldn't have come soon enough, as most of their family and friends have been waiting for this day as well. I drove down to South Carolina and captured a day of pure family. Their day took place is a rustic outdoor pavilion, where the weather couldn't have been more perfect. Brett was a box of nerves when it came to their first look and was like "I have been waiting for this, for 10 years." When he finally saw her, it couldn't get over how beautiful she looked. It was just such an intimate celebration, and lighting off the lanterns at the end of the night ( which we never could do this in NC, so cool!) was the best way to see them off, now as husband and wife.

Oh gosh. If I could have dreamed up the perfect clients for me, I think Meg and Drew would have been it. Everything they did on there wedding day was BEAUTIFUL. So quirky, and whimsical. So much hard work to create a space of color, and activities for everyone. Meg even made custom napkins for each of her guest! No bridesmaid wore the same, Meg walked down the aisle to Lord of the Rings, and there were gold temporary tattoos guests could apply to themselves at the reception. It was just fun. They were just fun. The light was perfect, and their friends where so thrilled to celebrate them. My heart relives these images and this wedding often. So thankful I got to be a part of this, and the wonderful day that it was.

Swaroop and Sarahbeth's wedding was filled with so much love. It was one of my first multi-culture weddings I had ever had the honor to photograph, and I absolutely loved how Sarahbeth and Swaroop wanted to celebrate both sides of their families throughout their day. This also came with a wonderful wardrobe change halfway through the day and so many photos of the best group of wedding attendees I have ever seen. We were so lucky that even on a pretty cloudy day, the sun decided to peek out right before it went down in the evening allowing Swaroop, Sarahbeth, and I to scoot off to the lake at Morning Glory Farm and get some sun filled shots. Some much kindness and beauty coming from these two :) Wishing them all the happiness in the world.

After the ceremony Sarahbeth and Swaroop changed outfits! Sarahbeth bought a stunning pink dress from BHLDN.